MOUNDS OF MEALS

Forty-thousand pounds. That’s about equal to the weight of 10 cars, two large elephants or about 210 grown men. It’s also the total weight of food given away to families in need by the Central Illinois Foodbank on Dec. 10. The food bank set up mobile food pantries at Kumler United Methodist Church, 303 N. Grand Ave., and St. Patrick Catholic School, 1800 South Grand Ave. East, to hand out fresh produce like apples, carrots, cabbage, potatoes and onions. Over a three-hour period, 2,144 people received the free food, which was purchased using Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds. Recipients were allowed to take however much food they need, the food bank said, adding that the produce was intended to supplement food available at local pantries. More than 160 food pantries in Illinois are supplied by the food bank, which provides about 8 million pounds of food annually. The food bank is located at 2000 East Moffat Ave., and can be reached at 522-4022.